Alarm enhancing protective cover for safety instruments with optional calibration chamber

Abstract

Methods and systems to redirect the audible and visible signals from alarms on a portable safety device. A cover (10) cooperates with a portable safety device (50) to define a sound chamber (12) that amplifies audible warning signals. A visual alarm guide (14) also is provided. A calibration adapter (500) affords quick and simple bump testing and calibration of the portable safety device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of prior U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 708,839 titled “Alarm Enhancing Protective Cover For Safety Instruments With Optional Calibration Chamber” filed Oct. 2, 2012 by Won et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Technical Field of the Invention[0003]The presently disclosed invention pertains generally to a protective cover for a portable safety instrument, and more specifically to a protective cover that enhances the audible and visible output from alarms on such a device.[0004]2. Background of the Invention[0005]Portable safety devices are often used and worn by individuals who work in extreme environments. Such safety devices may monitor for concentrations of gases that are toxic, combustible, or contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or for oxygen deficits. Once a threshold limit is reached, the portable de...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The presently disclosed invention provides a protective cover for a portable safety device. The protective cover includes a sound chamber that enhances the audible alarm of the device and, optionally, a visual alarm guide that enhances visibility of an optical alarm. The protective cover is formed of thin impact-resistant materials that protect the portable safety device from mechanical impact and from extreme temperature. The protective cover adds limited additional size to the device. The sound chamber amplifies audible alarms on the portable safety device in a range of resonance frequencies that is especially useful for safety alarms, about 3500±250 Hz. Further, the visual alarm guide redirects light from a visible alarm to the user's field of view so that a user may more easily detect the signal.

[0021]Embodiments of the alarm enhancing protective cover may further include a calibration gas chamber that affords easy calibration or bump testing of a gas sensor in a portable safety device such as a gas monitor.

[0028]The presently disclosed invention also includes methods to amplify an alarm on a portable safety device, improve effectiveness of a portable safety device, and calibrate a portable safety device.

Problems solved by technology

Portable safety devices are often used and worn by individuals who work in extreme environments.

At higher concentrations, H2S rapidly deadens the sense of smell (150 ppm), can cause immediate collapse and unconsciousness (750 ppm), and even lead to cardiac arrest and death (1000 ppm).

Because of the poor sensory warning (e.g. lack of smell when at toxic levels), extreme toxicity, and pervasiveness of this hazard, workers are often required to wear a personal gas detector for H2S at all times while they are at a work site where there is exposure potential.

Furthermore, in many environments, it may be difficult for the worker to observe a visible signal due to goggles or ventilation equipment, or simply because the type of work they perform impedes such an ability.

Failure of portable safety devices to provide an accurate audible, visible or vibrational alarm is often linked to infrequent bump testing and calibration.

In use, however, the worker may not take the time to perform such testing if it requires undue additional time and / or difficult procedures.

The difficulty with such a solution is the increased size and weight of the portable device that such added features bring, and the increased power requirement placed on the instrument's battery to support such additional features.

Further, the sound reflector of U.S. Pat. No. 8,086,285 would add considerable length to a portable device and may not direct the sound toward an individual who is wearing the device, as is frequently the case for portable safety devices.

Further, the prior art does not describe sound amplification that is suitable for addition to a portable device that must be kept small and lightweight, nor does it describe methods for amplifying the signal from a visible alarm.

However, none of those patents describe redirecting sound pressure waves from an audible alarm in the resonance frequency range of 2000 to 4500 Hz.

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